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Friday, June 29, 2012

Newark, NJ - Outsiders are rarely welcomed into the VIP Room at the local nightclub.

That's the partitioned off area typically enclosed by fixed walls along with avelvet rope and only the rich and famous need apply.

Coming into the 2012 NBA Draft there was a chance that 30 percent of the firstround would feature players from either Kentucky or North Carolina, twotraditional powerhouses and the very definition of the privileged in the worldof college basketball. In fact, you could call those two programs the onepercent of college hoops.

The equivalent of a VIP Room at a television event is the "green room" andthe NBA annually invites a number of the top prospects to sit in its specialarea set aside for them, along with their families and agents.

This season, the consensus No. 1 overall pick, Anthony Davis, was given thespecial treatment along with his teammate at Kentucky, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Sticking out like a sore thumb among all that talent from the marquee schoolswas one of the 99 percent, point guard Damian Lillard of Weber State.

No Lillard didn't win a contest while drinking Sprite or wearing adidas, hecrashed the party with talent the NBA simply could not ignore.

The Oakland native first burst onto the scene at the NBA Scouting Combinein Chicago where ESPN's Chad Ford proclaimed him the star of the annual gettogether.

Since the combine, Lillard's stock continued to rise, so much so that hebecame a lock to go among the first 14 picks with some expecting Portland topounce at No. 6.

Despite having options available like Barnes and Drummond, the Trail Blazerspulled the trigger and Lillard became the first player taken out of WeberState since Willard Sojourner was selected 20th overall by the Bulls in 1972.

"I would be lying if I said I expected to be here last year," Lillard said."But I'm honored, man, just to be drafted that high coming from where I comefrom, the school that I come from. I'm just so thankful to be in thissituation."

Lillard, 21, finished his four-year career at Weber State with averages of18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.25 steals. He spent most of hislast two years in the Big Sky Conference scoring and placed second in thenation last season with 24.6 points per game.

Despite that offensive acumen Lillard's size and ball-handling skills have NBAscouts projecting him at the point.

"He's a scoring point guard who can get inside, and he's improved his three-point shooting," NBA scouting director Ryan Blake said. "He's a great freethrow shooter; he's versatile as a scorer; he uses the pick-and-roll well; andhe can finish in traffic."

Virtually all of the criticism hounding Lillard hinges on two things, thelevel of competition he faced at the college level and the fact he will arrivein the NBA with little conventional point guard experience. That didn'tdissuade Blake, however.

"When you have someone with good size, good strength, good speed and you havesomeone who can shoot the ball and play defense, that's just a great package,"he said.

Lillard himself took on the lack of competition issue, pointing to a fewcurrent NBA stars that have already made the jump and excelled.

"It doesn't bother me," the Blazers new quarterback said of the criticism."You've got a guy like George Hill (who played at IUPUI) that's having a lotof success in the league and he played at the same level I played at. Samesize, similar skill set.

"Steve Nash played at Santa Clara. There are a lot of mid-major guys -- NorrisCole -- in the league and they are showing the level of competition reallyisn't a big deal."

Cole certainly showed an upside in Miami during his rookie season but you wantmore than potential out of the sixth pick in the draft. Meanwhile, as good asHill has been at times in both San Antonio and Indiana, he still hasn't provenhimself as a full-time starter.

Maybe the two MVPs Nash has collected is a bit much to hope for but a few All-Star appearances are not.

Lillard heads to Rip City as Neil Olshey's first draft choice with the team asthe new general manager attempts to inject some life into a franchise ravagedby injuries. Brandon Roy and Greg Oden are both distant memories after injuryplagued stays in the Pacific Northwest while All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge isrecovering from season-ending hip surgery.

Lillard will be the face of a nucleus which includes Aldridge as well asemerging wingman Nicolas Batum and the team's other first round pick, Leonard,who was selected at No. 11.

"We're really happy with the way this year's draft unfolded for us," saidOlshey. "We had the opportunity to acquire the best two players at theirposition who will help us move the needle and fit nicely into our emergingroster. Now we quickly shift gears to be very aggressive in free agency."

Unhook the velvet rope Portland, a VIP is on his way.

2012 NBA DRAFT PICK-BY-PICK ANALYSIS:

1. - New Orleans Hornets - Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Power Forward (6-10, 220)- Maybe the biggest no-brainer since the Cavs took LeBron in 2003. TheHornets truly won the lottery, cashing in on a 13.7 percent chance to moveup from the fourth spot to land Davis, a player who is regarded as the onlycan't miss prospect in this year's draft.

"I'm excited about having the chance to work with Anthony," said Hornets coachMonty Williams. "We have added an incredibly talented, athletic big man withgreat length who is also a proven winner. In getting to know him, he's also ahigh-character kid and someone I look forward to helping develop further."

The "Unibrow" will enter the NBA as an elite defender and shot blocker whostill has a long way to go offensively. He has the athleticism and skills,however, since he spent most of his youth playing on the perimeter before amassive growth spurt in high school.

"A great feeling, great experience," Davis said after being drafted, "I'vewanted this all my life, so it's finally here. To be drafted No. 1 overallmeans a lot to me. I just can't wait to get down there and start to play."

2 - Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky), Small Forward(6-7, 215) - It turned out to be back-to-back Wildcats, the first time in NBADraft history players from the same team were picked 1-2. Gilchrist, whoattended the same New Jersey High School (St. Patrick) which produced lastyear's top pick, Kyrie Irving, as well as Al Harrington and Samuel Dalembertplays with exceptional heart and energy. MKG is a strong, athletic wing playerwho possesses a high basketball IQ and projects as a lockdown defender at theNBA level. He's not and never will be an elite scorer, however.

"I just want to play for the Charlotte Bobcats," Gilchrist said. "That's whatI want to do right now."

3.- Washington Wizards - Bradley Beal (Florida), Shooting Guard (6-4, 210) -Cleveland was desperately trying to trade up to pair Beal with Kyrie Irving.Instead the Wizards get to pencil him in next to John Wall. Beal, a smoothshooter who also can get to the rim, looks like a perfect compliment to Walland should solidly the backcourt in the nation's capital for years to come.

"Whatever coach wants me to do and whatever role he puts me in, I'm willing todo whatever it takes to win," said Beal, who was celebrating his 19thbirthday."I'm not going to come in and just try to force the issue. I'm goingto try to come in and try to feel things out and get to know the vets a littlebit."

4. - Cleveland Cavaliers - Dion Waiters (Syracuse), Shooting Guard (6-5, 215)- The Cavs missed out on Beal and likely threw out their backs reaching forWaiters, the sixth man at Syracuse. Waiters had pulled out of a number of pre-draft interviews after getting a "promise" from a certain team believed to bethe Raptors at No. 8. His stock continued to rise but this is way too earlyfor a guy who played just 24 minutes a night at the college level.

"We knew we needed to add scoring and more playmaking and we were able to dothat with Dion," said Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant. "He's anaggressive, athletic, explosive player that is a great fit for our team."

5. - Sacramento Kings - - Thomas Robinson (Kansas), Power Forward (6-8, 240)- The Kings luck out getting the safest player outside of Davis in this draft.Robinson is the rare college player who will arrive in the pros with an NBA-ready body. He doesn't have the height teams covet these days, but thewingspan is there and the Kansas product is a high-energy, low-risk player whobrings a lunch pail mentality to the dance.

"I really didn't know where I was going to end up but it's a bit of asurprise," Robinson said of being taken by the Kings. "I didn't work out forSacramento at all, I probably talked to them once. But I'm here so I'mmeant to be here."

6.- Portland Trail Blazers - Damian Lillard (Weber State), Point Guard (6-2,195) - Even with Harrison Barnes and Andre Drummond on the board, the Blazersdidn't waiver and took the Weber State product. Although a scorer in college,NBA scouts think Lillard's skill set is tailor-made for running the pick-and-roll, a necessity in today's NBA.

7. - Golden State Warriors - Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Small Forward(6-8, 220) - The Warriors get the athletic, small forward they were sodesperate for, although it's an offensive-minded one. Barnes is a good spot-upjump shooter who could excel in the often-forgotten- about mid-range game andflash out to the 3-point line for Mark Jackson.

"I always had a lot of respect for him when he was an analyst," Barnes said ofhis new coach. "I got a chance to talk with him a bit in Chicago (at thescouring combine) a little bit, just talking basketball. And it was a great tosee how much a player's coach he is."

8. - Toronto Raptors - Terrence Ross (Washington), Shooting Guard (6-6, 200)- It's pretty clear Toronto wanted a wing player and took the best oneremaining on the board. An excellent shooter, Ross has great size andathleticism for the wing. He shoots the ball confidently and has greatmechanics on his jumper with range out to the 3-point line.

"It's going to be fun," Ross said of playing with DeMar DeRozan and new centerJonas Valanciunas, the team's first round pick from a year ago. "DeMar isgoing to help me a lot. He's the best they have. Having another rookie(Valanciunas) will help me and help him at the same time."

9. - Detroit Pistons - Andre Drummond (Connecticut), Center (6-11, 270)- The Pistons knew they would be in a nice spot to find a defensive big man toteam up with the ascending Greg Monroe. They thought it would be John Hensonbut Drummond fell and Joe Dumars jumped.

"He's a player with good size and physical tools and we look forward to seeinghim grow within our organization," Dumars said.

Drummond is probably the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in this year's draft.The physical gifts are certainly there with the big man, who has the size,power and athleticism to excel, especially as a defender, That said Drummondis not even close offensively and his motor has been questioned.

"I know we'll build a great team chemistry right away," Drummond said."(Detroit) is a great organization and the fans are great up there. I justcan't wait to be a part of that team."

10. - New Orleans Hornets - Austin Rivers (Duke), Combo Guard (6-4, 203) -After going big with Davis, it was time to get a legitimate point guard inNOLA and the Hornets went with Doc Rivers' kid, 29 years after Doc himselfwent in the second round.

"This is who we wanted (at number 10)," Hornets GM Dell Demps said. "We wereimpressed by him during his workout and we're excited to bring Austin to NewOrleans."

Austin, a nice-sized combo guard, figures to fit into the rotation very early.Most scouts aren't sure he's a point guard, however, and he must improve as adefender.

"This is an amazing opportunity," Rivers said. "Coach Monty Williams is agreat coach. Anthony is coming. They have a great city. I'm looking forwardto going there and working hard."

"Obviously with Portland they have LaMarcus at the 4 and I'm going to have tocome in and prove myself first and foremost," Leonard said. "But knowing thatI have an opportunity in front of me to quite possibly start or just even be afactor is a great feeling."

12. - Houston Rockets - Jeremy Lamb (Connecticut), Shooting Guard (6-5,190) - The Rockets got this pick from Milwaukee in the Samuel Dalemberttrade. Lamb projects as perhaps the best pure scorer in the draft and could bea nice replacement for Kevin Martin, who is on the trading block.

"I can stretch the floor," Lamb said when asked about his game "You know I canadd scoring and also contribute on the defensive end."

13. - Phoenix Suns - Kendall Marshall (North Carolina), Point Guard(6-4, 197) - This may signal the end of the Steve Nash-era in the desert.Marshall projects is the best natural point guard in this year's draft sinceLillard was more of a scorer in the Big Sky. A natural floor leader whounderstands how to control the flow of a game, UNC coach Roy Williams calledhim the best passer he's ever coached.

"We are ecstatic," said Suns general manager Lance Blanks. "Looking at ourboard and who was there at the 13th pick, that was the guy we were targetingall along. Kendall represents where we are as an organization. Don't read toofar into this as far as free agency-he represents everything we want to beabout, as a player and as a person. He's a winner."

14. - Milwaukee Bucks - John Henson (North Carolina), Power Forward (6-10,220) - Carolina's Henson is a slight guy with a major league defensivepresence who needs to add polish to his is offensive game. There is noquestion that he needs to add strength also, but he can destroy half-courtsets with a 7-foot-4 wingspan.

"You want to find ways to get on the court whether it's you're defense or shotblocking. I'm in good hands (with coach Scott Skiles)," Henson said. "I'mexcited to get this started and get to Milwaukee."

15. - Philadelphia 76ers - Maurice Harkless (St. John's), Small Forward (6-8,220) - You can never have enough small forwards in Philly evidently but thiswas a prudent move for a team which could have made a big mistake by assumingTyler Zeller was the answer in the middle. Harkless has great size for the 3and a big upside as a scorer.

"I showed teams how hard I work and how hard I compete," Harkless said. "A lotof teams didn't think I could shoot the ball and I showed the teams I couldshoot the ball really well. I think I just left a good impression onPhiladelphia."

16.- Houston Rockets - Royce White (Iowa State), Combo Forward (6-8, 250) -White could be a steal at least offensively. He's a lottery-level, uniquetalent who loves to drive and dish but needs time to develop his defensivegame at the next level.

17. - Dallas Mavericks (picking for the Cleveland Cavaliers) - Tyler Zeller(North Carolina), Center (7-foot, 240) - The Cavs traded No. 24 and two earlysecond round picks for Zeller, a legitimate center who moves well for hissize, and swingman Kelenna Azubuike. Zeller needs to add strength so he canhold up on the blocks at the defensive end. Getting the UNC big man, however,should enable Anderson Varejao to play more minutes at power forward, hisnatural position.

"We needed another big man that can shoot, rebound, defend and get up and downthe court with our style of play," Grant said. "We were able to do that withTyler and we feel he is also a great fit for our team."

18. - Houston Rockets - Terrence Jones (Kentucky), Combo Forward (6-8, 245) -Jones is a powerfully built combo forward who took a back seat to Davis andKidd- Gilchrist on an ultra-talented Kentucky team. He is a nice option here.Despite his size,Jones relies too much on the jumper and should considerattacking the basket a bit more. He looks like a power forward and plays likea small forward.

"We are excited to have Andrew (Nicholson) join our Orlando Magic family,"said general manager Rob Hennigan. "We feel he embodies the types of valuesthat will put him in a position to achieve success here. He's a humble, highcharacter player, who's committed to working hard and playing within a teamconcept. We are intrigued by his cerebral, instinctual approach to the game."

"I'm a slasher, kind of like (Manu) Ginobili," Fournier said when talkingabout his game. "I can charge to the basket and finish around the rim. I thinkthat's my biggest strength."

21. - Boston Celtics - Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Power Forward (6-8,260) - You could see this shaping up. A smart organization taking a smartplayer who fell due to a balky back. It's certainly worth rolling the dicehere. A lottery level talent, the risk-reward ratio is off the charts withSullinger at 21.

22. - Boston Celtics - Fab Melo (Syracuse), Center (7-foot, 255) - Bostonhasn't had a legitimate center since shipping Kendrick Perkins to OklahomaCity and Melo could be the answer, projecting as a Perkins-type player,limited offensively but solid as a defender.

23. - Atlanta Hawks - John Jenkins (Vanderbilt), Combo Guard (6-4, 212) - Thebest pure shooter in the draft, Jenkins may not have the athleticism to bemuch more than a specialist at the NBA level.

"John can really shoot, plays hard and is a competitive kid," said Hawksgeneral manager Danny Ferry. "Having a guy out there who can space the floorfor our core group will make everything function better when he's on thecourt."

"We're very happy John was available at number 23, and we were able to gethim," added Hawks head coach Larry Drew. "He can really come off screens, andneeds just a little bit of daylight to get his shot off. He has terrificrange, and when you play against guys like that who can shoot the ball, itjust gives you another weapon."

25. - Memphis Grizzlies - Tony Wroten Jr.(Washington), Point Guard (6-6, 203)- A left-handed, athletic point guard with imposing size. Wroten needs toimprove his decision making and jump shot to succeed at the NBA level. Therehave been a lot of comparisons to Rajon Rondo because of Wroten's freakyathleticism but that's a stretch.

27. - Miami Heat (drafting for Philadelphia) - Arnett Moultrie (MississippiState), Power Forward (6-10, 235) - The Sixers gave up the 45th pick (LSUcenter Justin Hamilton) and a protected future first round pick to move backinto the first round and get Moultrie, a solid move since Elton Brand is onhis last legs and could be amnestied. Moultrie is a well-rounded big body whocould help early in his career.

28. - Oklahoma City Thunder - Perry Jones (Baylor), Power Forward (6-10, 240)- The rich get richer here. Early on Jones was considered a possible No. 1overall pick, so the skills are certainly there, but he never producedconsistently at Baylor and a knee problem scared off a number of teams. He'smore than worth a flyer here for a team that can afford to wait a bit.

"I just wanted the opportunity to play in the NBA," Jones said. "It didn'treally matter where I was picked. I just wanted the chance to play withsomebody and I'm more than happy to play with Kevin Durant. He's my favoriteplayer."

29. - Chicago Bulls - Marquis Teague (Kentucky), Point Guard (6-2, 190) -With Derrick Rose recovering from a torn ACL getting a point guard likeTeague, the brother of Atlanta's Jeff Teague, was a prudent move by Chicago.He will eventually be a nice 10- to 15-minute option to run things asRose's caddy.

30. - Golden State Warriors - Festus Ezeli (Vanderbilt), Center/Power Forward(6-11, 265) - Ezeli is a big powerful guy still learning the game. He didn'tstart playing organized basketball until 2007 and needs to learn how to usehis body more effectively

DRAFT NOTES:

-Davis is only the second player from Kentucky selected with the top overallpick, joining Wall from 2010. He's the third SEC player taken No.1, after Walland Shaquille O'Neal (1992).

-This was the second time in franchise history the Hornets made the number oneselection. In 1991, the then-Charlotte Hornets used the top overall choice toselect UNLV's Larry Johnson, who went on to capture 1991-92 Rookie of the Yearhonors. A year later, the Hornets had the second overall pick and selectedGeorgetown's Alonzo Mourning. The only other time the franchise selected inthe top three was 1999 when UCLA's Baron Davis was nabbed with the thirdoverall pick.

-This year marks the first time two schools have had four players selected inthe first round, Kentucky (Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Jones and Teague) and NorthCarolina (Barnes, Marshall, Henson and Zeller).